Door supporting and operating device.



No. 832,457. PATENTED 0013.2, 1906.

- M. OOSSBY. j

. noon SUPPORTING AND OPERATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, 1905.

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u 8mm 7 arm/W 1 I Witmeomo No. 832,457. PATBNTED 0017.2, 1906.

M. GOSSBY.

DOOR SUPPORTING AND OPERATING DEVICE.

APPLIOAT ION FILED MAY 13. 1905.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MYRON COSSEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Specification of Letters Patent.

DOOR SUPPORTING AND OPERATING DEVICE.

Patented Oct. 2, 1906'.

\ Application filed May 13, 1905. Serial No. 260.208.

7 same or ifierent rates of speed and at the same time relieve theoperating mechanism from all strains other than that caused by the forcerequired to move the doors laterally,

The accompanying drawings show some of the forms which my improvementsmay take.

In the drawings, wherein the same reference-numerals have been used todesignate corresponding parts, Figure 1 shows a front elevation withdoors closed and certain parts broken away. Fig. 2 is a front elevationwith doors partly open and certain parts broken away. Fig. 3 isavertical section, partly in elevation, along the line 3 3 in Fig.

. 2. Figs. 4 and 5 show difierent forms of endbearing supports. Fig. 6is a front elevation of a portion of a modified construction, and Fig. 7is a vertical cross-sectionthrough In the drawings, 1 and 2 designatesliding doors. The doors in this particular instance are connected toslide in opposite directions and at the same speed. The mechanism foraccomplishing thiscomprises a screw-rod 3 This screw-rod in theparticular form illustrated consists of a strip of metal twisted toformspirals running along its length. It will be noted that the twohalves ofthe rod have been twisted in opposite directions, so as to formone half of the strip into righthanded spirals and the otherhalf intoleft handed spirals. The purpose of forming the two halves in thisinstance with different spirals is, as hereinafter explained, to compelthe doors to move in opposite directions.

The screw-rod 3 just described is rotatably mounted in fixed bearings,preferably located both at the center of the rod and at the two ends.The end bearings 4 4 comprise members 5, hollowed out to form cups 6,into which the conically-pointed ends 7 of the screw-rod extend andagainst the bottom of which said ends have their bearing.

Figs. 4 and 5 show preferred methods of adjustably supporting the endbearings in the bearing is shown formed in the head 9 of the bolt 10.The screw-threads on said bolt engage corresponding threads 11 in thehole in the bracket. A jam-nut 12 is provided, internally threaded toengage the boltthreads, and is adapted to be screwed against the side ofthe bracket to secure the bolt rigidly in position after it has beenadjusted to bring the cup in its head in proper bearing contact with theend of the screw-rod. The

construction shown in Fig. 5 differs from that just described in that asecond nut 13 is provided to engage the screw-threads on the cup side ofthe bolt 14, which nut, like the nut 12 on the other side, is ada tedalso to be screwed against the face of t e bracket to additionally lockand secure the cupped member to the bracket. Obviously the bolt 14 neednot be screw-threaded where it en gages the hole in the bracket. Thecenter also of the screw-rod will preferably be provided with asupporting-bearing by forming on said rod near its middlea cylindricalporthe brackets 8. In Fig. 4 the cupped part of tion 15, Figs. 1 and 2,which turns within and I is supported by a sleeve or sleeves 16, securedto the door-frame in any suitable manner.

The connections between the respective doors and the screw-rod comprise,generally speaking, any member or device which when one of the doors ismoved compels the screw rod by its engagement therewith to rotate or,vice versa, compels the door to slide when the rod is rotated. In theconstruction illustrated this connection comprises a pair of rollers 1717, mounted one on each side of the screw-rod, said rollers beingsupported on suitable bearings in the brackets 18, connected with thedoors. The rollers of each pair are mounted suitably close together soas to twist or compel rotation of the screwrod when they are moved alongsaid rod and,

vice versa, to be themselves forced along the rod when the rod isrotated. Thus when door 1 is moved to the left into the position shownin Fig. 2 the rollers attached thereto will compel the screw-rod torotate and by its rotation and its engagement with the rollers belongingto the other door 2 will compel said other door to slide. In theconstruction illus trated the door 2 will move in the opposite directionfrom door 1, since the two halves of the screw-rod are oppositelyspiraled,

It should be stated that to move the doors rotation of the screw-rodshould be rollers,-

since non-rotary members will compel said rotation, although, of course,with greatly-increased friction. The rollers are therefore to be muchpreferred. Moreover, it is not essential that there should be pairedmembers, one on either side of the scre .v-rod, since a single memberwill suffice where, for example, as

shown, the doors slide on fixed guides which hold said member inconstant operative engagement with the screw-rod.

Referring now to the various means shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and also inFigs. 6, 7 for supporting and guiding the doors to enable them to slidefreely, but to prevent their ha vmg any tilting or vertical movement,- Ihave illustrated two modifications of the general type of door-hangerheretofore patented by me in my United States Letters Patent No.-632,224, of August 29, 1899. In Figs. 1 and 2 I show what Imay call twointermediate bars or tracks 35 35, each supported between two outsidetracks 29 and 48. Antifriction devices 36' are provided on each side ofthese intermediate tracks and between them and the adjacent outsidetracks, Fig. 3. The adjacent edges of the intermediate and outsidetracks are provided with groo ves 37 for the reception of theantifriction devices, which are shown in the form of balls. So far theconstructions shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and 3 correspond with that shown inFigs. 6,- 7. In Figs. 1, 2, and 3, however, it is the intermediatetracks 35 which are the movable bars and the outside tracks 48 and 29which are fixed to the structure and are immovable. In Figs. 1, 2, and3, consequently, the brackets 18, carrying the rollers 17, are rigidlysecured to the intermediate tracks 35. In the construction shown inFigs. 6, 7 the outside tracks 44 are rigidly connected together andserve as the movable member sliding upon the fixed bar or intermediatetrack 45. In this latter case the roller-bracket 1 8 is of courserigidly secured to and moves with the upper one of the outside trackswhich now constitute the moving member. Obviously whichever one of thesetwo modifications is employed the movable track or movable tracks, asthe case may be, are always absolutely prevented from any verticaltwisting or tilting movement and, in fact, from any movement in anydirection excepting a substantially horizontal sliding backward andforward. Under ordinary conditions if anything happens which would tendto jam or tilt either of the doors the twisting will occur at a pointintermediate the door and the movable track or tracks. Such aconstruction practically insures the impossibility of any strain foreither supporting the door or of twisting or bending or any other formof pressure being brought to bear upon either the screw-rod or therollers or other device which engages the same.-

In connection with the construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7 it will beunderstood that the rollers in the bracket 18 cocperate with thescrew-rod (not shown) in the same way pre viously described inconnection with Figs. 1 and 2.

Any suitable means may be employed for connecting the door and themovable mem: ber of the supporting devices. In the present case I haveshown a U-shaped member 19, secured to the movable member of thesupporting devices by screws 20 and connected to the door by athreadedbolt 22, whichex= tends through atop bar 27 on the door, and nuts 25 and26 on the bolt engage the bar 27 on opposite sides. Anothernut 24 on thebolt engages the member 19. 30, 31, and 32 indicate the location ofdevices for securing the immovable member of the supporting devices tothe door frame or wall. Ball-spacers 33 are preferably used in the formof pipes" or rods the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so as n'ot tointerfere with the reciprocation of the U-shaped members. With this formof spacer I preferabl use a stop member 38 on each end of the mi dle bar35. Each member has side lugs 40, secured to the bar 35 by screws 41,and two stops 34, one above and the other below, to prevent the balls 36from running out of the grooves 37.

Having thus described my invention,- wh at I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Let ters Patent, is

1. In door supporting and operating devices, the combination with aplurality of supporting devices each comprising two out side barsrigidly connected together forming one element, and an intermediate barslid-' ably supported between the two outer bars, and constitutinganother element, one of these elements being movable with respect to theother, means for connecting each movable element to a door, andoperating devices comprising a screw-rod supported to rotate andconnections between the movable elements and said screw-rod fortransmitting movement of either movable element to all the other movableelements.

2. In door supporting and operating devices, the combination of ascrew-rod, a phirality of sliding doors,- means intermediate said doorsand said rod to transmit motion In Figs. 1 and 2,

from any one door to each of the other doors, and additional means forpreventing the transmission of strain from the doors to said rod.

3. In door supporting and operating devices, the combination of ascrew-rod, a pin rality of slidin doors, means connecting said doors andsai rod to transmit motion from any one door to each of the other doors,and means comprising three tracks with relative movement between theintermediate track and the two outside tracks and arranged to supportthe doors and prevent transmission of strains to said screw-rod.

I 4. In door supporting and operating de- I said doors when the rod isrotated.

5. Indoor'supportingand operating devices, the combination of ascrew-rod; a plurality of sliding doors; means carried by said doorscomprising rollers cooperating with said rod to compel rotation thereofwhen said doors are moved, and vice versa to move said doors when therod is rotated, and meansfor supporting the entire weight of the doorsand prgventing the transmission of strains to said r0 6. In doorsupportin and operating devices, the combination oi ing of a strip ofmetal twisted to form s irals along its length; a plurality of slidingoors; and means carried by said doors comprising pairs of rollerscooperating with said rod, one on each side'thereof, to compel rotationof the rod 'when said doors are moved, and vice versa to move said doorswhen the rod is rotated, and means for supporting the entire weight ofthe doors and preventing the transmission of strains to said rod.

7. In door supporting and operating de vices, the combination with twosliding doors, of two sets of supporting devices, each comprising threebars With relative movement between the two outside bars andintermediate bar, each set having its movable member connected to andentirely supporting one door, a screw-rod having two parts providedrespectively with right and left spirals, and engaging devices coactingwith said spirals and connected respectively each with the movablemember of one set of supporting devices, to drive the doors in oppositedirections.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

MYRON COSSEY.

Witnesses:

HENRY R. BAUER, J. C. CONRADI.

a screw-rod consist-.

